Police Brutality, Misconduct and Shootings

News about police brutality, misconduct and shootings, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 31, 2015

Video recordings of violent altercations between police and black civilians are beginning to alter public perception of police use of force and race relations, presenting police departments across United States with challenge of winning back public trust; rising demands for use of police dashboard and body cameras have raised number of issues, including questions of whether cameras affect police behavior; some contend vast majority of nonviolent, respectful police encounters have been lost in controversy. MORE

Jul. 31, 2015

Texas lawmakers begin inquiry into confrontational behavior of white Texas state trooper Brian T Encinia in arrest of black woman Sandra Bland, who committed suicide after being taken into custody for traffic stop. MORE

Jul. 31, 2015

Two University of Cincinnati police officers who were present when officer Ray Tensing shot and killed black motorist Samuel Dubose are put on paid leave; $1 million bail is set for Tensing, who is released on bond and faces murder charge. MORE

Jul. 31, 2015

New York Police Dept report finds body camera rules should be revised; suggests officers should turn on cameras more often when engaging with suspects, and less often with victims and informers; report is issued by department's inspector general. MORE

Jul. 31, 2015

Charles M Blow Op-Ed column describes spending time with grieving family of Sam Dubose, who was shot dead by University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing; expresses admiration for way family members, and in particular Dubose's eldest sister Terina, have endured their grief even as they have become advocates for reform. MORE

Jul. 30, 2015

University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing is indicted on murder charge in relation to shooting death of unarmed black man Samuel Dubose during traffic stop; prosecutors release graphic video of shooting, saying footage provides evidence that Tensing misrepresented incident and that Dubrose did not act aggressively or pose threat; Officer Tensing could face life in prison. MORE

Jul. 30, 2015

New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division upholds decision not to release evidence presented to Staten Island grand jury in case of police officer Daniel Pantaleo and death of Eric Garner. MORE

Jul. 29, 2015

United States Appeals Court rules that lawsuit can proceed against white police officers in Ferguson, Mo, who are accused of using excessive force in 2009 arrest of black man Henry Davis. MORE

Jul. 29, 2015

Editorial highlights potential opportunity to limit New York State law that shields employment records of police officers, which is often used to hide misdeeds; notes that New York City will likely appeal State Supreme Court Justice Alice Schlesinger's order to release misconduct findings against Office Daniel Pantaleo, who used chokehold in arrest that led to Eric Garner's death, and court proceedings will be prime chance to alter only law in nation that denies public access to information about police officers. MORE

Jul. 28, 2015

Family of Sandra Bland, black woman found dead in Texas jail cell three days after she was arrested during traffic stop, does not believe that she committed suicide, calling for Justice Dept to open investigation into her death. MORE

Jul. 28, 2015

Cleveland Police Sgt Robert Schwab is placed on administrative duty until investigation into why he deployed pepper-spray into crowd of people blocking police cruiser. MORE

Jul. 28, 2015

Former Mount Pleasant Police Chief Brian Fanelli pleads guilty to child pornography charge; faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine when he is sentenced in November. MORE

Jul. 27, 2015

Legacy of racial disparities and injustice in Waller County, Tex, has catalyzed deep suspicions about events leading to arrest and subsequent suicide of black woman Sandra Bland in jail cell; county has history of disenfranchisement and racial violence, though some residents say much has improved in recent decades; Bland's death, following other prominent deaths of African-Americans after confrontations with law enforcement, has prompted many to parse details for evidence of bias. MORE

Jul. 27, 2015

Atty Gen Loretta E Lynch remarks on arrest and death in Texas of Sandra Bland, saying incident has drawn attention to distrustful relationship that black and minority communities have with law enforcement. MORE

Jul. 27, 2015

Charles M Blow Op-Ed column asserts funeral of Sandra Bland, black woman who died in Texas jail, ostensibly by suicide, presents mixture of celebration and defiance that reflects Bland herself; holds Bland's character was expressed by her refusal to demur to white, male officer during routine traffic stop, attitude for which she has been criticized; supports Bland's family and friends in their fight for justice, and says American public wants, and needs, to know what happened to Bland at hands of police. MORE

Jul. 25, 2015

Roxane Gay Op-Ed article deplores state of race relations in America that brought about death of black woman Sandra Bland in Texas prison; asserts driving car while black in America has been repeatedly construed as incriminating; says as black woman living in America, she, like Bland, must live with knowledge that her right to life and safety are never certain. MORE

Jul. 24, 2015

Los Angeles Police Officer Mary O’Callaghan receives 16 month jail sentence after being found guilty of 2012 beating of handcuffed woman who later died. MORE

Jul. 24, 2015

Prosecutors say no charges will be filed against Miami Beach Police Officer Jorge Mercado in 2013 Taser death of 18-year-old Israel Hernandez-Llach. MORE

Jul. 24, 2015

New York State Supreme Court Judge Alice Schlesinger orders release of misconduct findings against New York City Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who held Eric Garner in chokehold; critics say law hides records and supports NYPD's so-called blue wall of silence. MORE

Jul. 23, 2015

Waller County, Tex, Sheriff R Glenn Smith says that Sandra Bland, who was found dead in jail cell, told county jail officials that she tried to kill herself in 2014, statement that Bland's family disputes; despite statement, jailers had not put Bland on suicide watch; disagreement comes day after Texas authorities released dashboard camera video of Bland's arrest by State Trooper Brian T Encinia, who has since been placed on administrative duty. MORE

Jul. 23, 2015

Andre Anderson is introduced as new police chief of Ferguson, Mo, where he is tasked with rebuilding trust between law enforcement and community following racial tensions over death of Michael Brown; Anderson is black and has nearly 25 years of experience in law enforcement. MORE

Jul. 22, 2015

Texas lawmakers condemn behavior of Brian T Encinia, state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland after routine traffic stop, upon release of dashboard camera video documenting encounter; Bland was found dead of apparent suicide three days later in her jail cell; video depicts heated confrontation, contradicting Encinia's description; Bland's family has questioned ruling of death as suicide. MORE

Jul. 21, 2015

Texas authorities release video and describe timeline of events within jail cell of Sandra Bland, black woman found dead three days after she was arrested during traffic stop. MORE

Jul. 20, 2015

Charles Blow Op-Ed column asserts that mysterious deaths of young black women Sandra Bland and Kindra Chapman while in police custody point to need for equal recognition of challenges faced by black women in rights movement sweeping America; says critics are right to be suspicious of suicide claims in both cases, and urges investigations to reveal truth. MORE

Jul. 18, 2015

Family and friends of Eric Garner begin two days of rallies, protest and memorials to mark year anniversary since Garner died after being put into chokehold by New York City police officer in Staten Island. MORE

Jul. 18, 2015

New York City Police Dept announces that 19 police officers in Bronx have been charged with wrongdoing and face disciplinary action; internal audit found that 55 crime reports that incorrectly classified crimes and made complaints seem less serious than they were, which helped 40th Precinct seem better at policing that it actually was. MORE

Jul. 17, 2015

Jim Dwyer About New York column says Comptroller Scott M Stringer has approved payments of $37.8 million in seven high-profile cases that involved claims of abuses of power, including police death of Eric Garner and wrongful imprisonment of others; says no explanations of wrongdoing have been offered in spite of payments. MORE

Jul. 17, 2015

Calls to change policing persist year after police chokehold death of Eric Garner on Staten Island; parts of New York try to move on from his killing, but reform movement continues; settlement over family's wrongful-death claim does not mandate changes in police practices. MORE

Jul. 16, 2015

Release of video showing 2013 fatal police shooting of unarmed black man Ricardo Diaz-Zeferino in Gardena, Calif, is latest in string of incidents raising questions over police use of force. MORE

Jul. 16, 2015

New York Atty Gen Eric T Schneiderman authorizes changes to procedures in cases of unarmed civilians killed by police; county district attorneys will be able to open investigations for incidents, but restrictions will apply. MORE

Jul. 16, 2015

Michael Kimmelman Critic's Notebook cites Tompkinsville, Staten Island neighborhood where Eric Garner was killed in 2014, as example of how urban renewal projects of 1960s have exacerbated racial and economic divides in cities. MORE

Jul. 15, 2015

Federal Judge Stephen V Wilson orders city of Gardena, Calif, to release video of fatal 2013 police shooting of unarmed man Ricardo Diaz-Zeferino, so that public can see why city paid Diaz-Zeferino's family $4.7 settlement. MORE

Jul. 15, 2015

Family of Eric Garner, Staten Island man who died at hands of police in 2014, sign $5.9 million settlement with New York City comptroller Scott M Stringer but say agreement does not mean end to their call for reform; ask for federal charges to be brought MORE

Jul. 15, 2015

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at memorial marking one-year anniversary of death of Eric Garner; chooses words carefully in attempt to strike balance between concerns of citizens and police officials. MORE

Jul. 15, 2015

Gun possession indictment against John Hooper is vacated, latest case to be dismissed in ongoing investigation into gun arrests by several police officers in Brooklyn's 67th precinct; Hooper files federal civil rights lawsuit against officers Gregory Jean-Baptiste and Edward Babington and New York City. MORE

Jul. 15, 2015

Editorial praises $5.9 million settlement reached between New York City and family of Eric Garner, black man killed by police on Staten Island; says while deal does not answer all questions in case or ease family's pain, it is wise, cost-effective and compassionate. MORE

Jul. 14, 2015

New York City settles with family of Eric Garner, paying $5.9 million to satisfy wrongful-death claim over his killing by police on Staten Island in July 2014; Garner's death sparked national debate about police behavior in minority communities and racial discrimination in criminal justice system. MORE

Jul. 14, 2015

Judge James Caputo sets trial date for Robert Bates, former Tusla, Okla, reserve deputy who pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in shooting death of Eric Harris. MORE

Jul. 12, 2015

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is grappling with steep challenge of reducing escalating crime wave while simultaneously reining in police abuses; challenge is particularly acute given that Rawlings-Blake is facing reelection in city still traumatized and angered by death of Freddie Gray in police custody. MORE

Jul. 10, 2015

New York State Atty Gen Eric T Schneiderman announces formation of special unit to investigate cases of police killings of unarmed citizens. MORE

Jul. 9, 2015

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake fires Police Commissioner Anthony W Batts hours after police union issues report that criticized police department's response to riots sparked by death of Freddie Gray while in police custody; Rawlings-Blake says Batts's ouster had nothing to do with report but with fact that Batts had been hindering efforts to address surge in violent crime in the city. MORE

Jul. 9, 2015

FBI opens investigation into 2013 police shooting death of Jermaine McBean in Broward County, Fla; McBean's family has accused police there of tampering with records in case. MORE